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@unclejimmy:  Yep, fashionably late.  That’s what happens when you live on this side of the water and have to go to work at an office making other people rich.  🙁

I have joined Twitch – my condolences. 😀

Do I have to do anything else.  – Actually, no.  So there are two things you can do …

1)  I run these games via a web conference tool. All you really have to do is hit the link in that group e-mail that says “MEETING” – we’re aiming for 9PM (might be a little late) tomorrow your time.

2) Twitch works too.  Same time.  Just hit Sitrep Twitch Channel .

What bothers you?  – I’d better not say.  Just in a shitty mood.  Hence the apology in advance.

If it isn’t original then it can’t be worthy of attention? I get it.  – Nothing is original.  Cracks me up when someone thinks something is.

Maybe that is why the “youth” are so useless? – Well, to their credit, they make me laugh.  So they admittedly serve some purpose. 😀   And wistful nostalgia.  *sigh …* I remember when I was that naive …

You are so autistic I can smell it! – Ha!  Only about certain things, in my defense.  For example, anything fantasy or sci-fi … I have no issues.  Have fun, go for it.  Historical, however, has an additional hurdle to clear, which most gamers don’t realize is even there.  If they do, they’re don’t understand it.  If they understand it, it intimidates them.  It’s all fine.

And again, it’s not just “grognard preference” or “rivet counting.”  The games … are broken.

Generic example:  Tank platoon “A” has a range of 1000 yards.  Infantry platoon “B” moves at 200 yards a turn (1 minute turns, and this is being generous).  A bazooka / PIAT / panzerschreck has a range of 100-200 yards.  So that infantry platoon has to cross through 5-6 fire phases of the tank platoon (once within 300 yards or so they’re also dealing with the tank’s MGs).  That infantry platoon trying to assault that tank platoon is dog meat.

But in most recent “games” (and I use that term loosely) Tank A has something like a range of 24, Infantry has a range of 12, and a move of 6.  So the Infantry Platoon moves once, maybe twice, and as the tank under fire.

No tactics.  You can just walk up to a tank and blast it.  No need for cover, suppressive fire, off-board support assets, smoke, terrain, fire and maneuver, triangulation …

BROKEN game.  It fails to recreate the conditions and tactics it’s using as a cheap marketing gimmick, cloaking itself as “historical” in a sad, vain attempt to “culturally appropriate” the additional reality and gravitas that genre embodies (or is supposed to embody, in any event).

Now, INFANTRY-based games like FoF you mention (I assume Infinity as well, but I’m not familiar and in any event, it’s sci fi so it gets the carte blanche) I have no issue with, because just as most heavy weapons cover much MORE range than most people realize, infantry weapons and small arms are much SHORTER ranged than most people realize, at least in real combat conditions.  So I find they “fit” on the table quite well.

Card Games  – the only “real” card game I like is poker, mostly because I play it with my Dad.

Grouchy – in @doctorether ‘s defense, I think I was calling us grouchy, or at least myself. 😀

@cpauls1 – I like the LED mini.  Is that a water elemental or blue magical flame?  Objective marker? Hey, I know those other minis!  Aren’t those some of the heavy infantry that shattered my right wing one time? 😀 😀 😀

Harpoon – Eh … I have mixed feelings on this game.  I honestly see what you mean, and agree in large extent.  I think the game found its footing when it moved to PC.  As a table top game, or miniatures game, I agree it was very hard work to the point of being basically unplayable.

First of all, and I know we use this phrase to kid around a lot, but in Harpoon it was a literal truth … I have LITERALLY had to play that game on a tennis court.  Not kidding about that.  My Dad had a tennis court in our back yard growing up, and I seriously lost the USS Iowa out there once.

Harpoon gets a lot of things right.  It drives home the point that weapons are nothing … SENSORS are all.  And helicopters.  I’ll trade in a squadron of Tomcats for one decent ASW SH-60 Seahawk launched off a humble frigate.  Games that teach the TRUTH about military operations – never mind the “rool of kool” and “cinematic moments” – are the ones for me – at least for historical and moderns.  Again, sci fi and fantasy … this totally doesn’t apply.  😀

Coming up with a better system … well, its is far </i>from perfect, but Rory Crabb’s Naval Command that I featured in the Falklands Series wasn’t bad.  I feel the game needs a real “come to Jesus” moment with a copy editor and a serious fact-check with a copy of Janes, but the ground work is solid and it the game runs smooth.  @elessar2590 and I ran a 20-ship game in five hours.  Would have taken five days in Harpoon.